Wedge-making machine.



PATENTED JULY 14, 1908.

E. P. ZAII-INTBYR. WEDGEMAKING MACHINE.-

APPLIO ATION FILED SEPT. 5, 1907.

. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERVIE PLINTEN ZAHNTER, OF HIGHLAND, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOC. M. HILL, OF HIGHLAND, CALIFORNIA.

WEDGE-MAKING MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 14, 1908'.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERVIE PLINTEN ZAHNTER, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Highland, in the county of San Bernardino, in theState of California, have invented a certain new and useful Wedge-Making Machine, of which the following is a specification.

: 11 at one end of its top surface.

The object of my invention is to provide a machine of simple, durableand inexpensive construction, especially designed for quickly andaccurately cutting wooden wedges of the kind used by vehicle wheelmakers, in wedging the spoke tenons in the felly.

' A further object is to provide a device of this kind which may bequickly and easily adjusted, for making wedges of various degrees ofincline, and for cutting other articles on any desired taper.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combinationof the various parts of the device, whereby the objects contemplated areattained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claimsand illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows atop or plan view of the complete wedge making machine embodying myinvention. Fig. 2 shows a detail, perspective view of the knife. Fig. 3shows a vertical, central sectional view of the complete machineembodying my invention, and Fig. 4 shows a side elevation of same, withthe operating handle in a folded position. i

Referring to the accompanying drawings, I have used the referencenumeral 10 to indicate the base of the machine. This is preferably madecomplete of a solid block of ard wood, and is provided with a shoulderBolted to the sides of the block 10 are the guide plates 12, havinginclined slots 13 formed in their sides above the base. The lower endsof the slots terminate at a'point adjacent to the shoulder 11.

The wedge cutting knife comprises a blade portion 14, two forwardlyprojecting guide lugs 15, and two outwardly projecting ends 16, whichlatter extend through the slots 13. Fixed to the ends 16 are the links17, arranged outside of the plates 12. Fulcrumed to one end of the block10 is the forked operating lever 18, having the links 17 pivotedthereto, on the inner sides of the forked arms of' said lever. At theupper end of the lever 18 is an extension handle 19, pivotally connectedwith the handle member 18. The lower end of the handle 19 is providedwith an opening 21, and the handle member 18 is'provided with an opening22, which will register with the opening 21, when the handle member isin line with the lever. A pin 23 is provided to be passed through said 0enings 21 and 22, to thereby lock the han le member in line with themember 18, thus forming a long handle to give a powerful leverage to theknife, and also providing means whereby the handle and lever may befolded into compact form, as shown in Fig. 4. In Fig. 3 of the drawings,I have shown a wedge, indicated by the numeral 24, of the kind made bythe machine.

In order to rovide for making wedges of various angles have placed atapered block 26 on top of the base 10, upon which the wedges to be outare placed, one end of this block 26 resting against the shoulder 11.Beneath the block 26 is a recess having an inclined bottom 27 andmounted in this recess is a wedge shaped block 28, its lower ortionresting on the inclined bottom 27, an its top resting against the wedgedshaped block 26.

Connected with the block 28 is a screw 29 which is passed through ascrew threaded plate 30 secured to the base 10. If it is desired toelevate the end of block 26 furthest from the shoulder 27 I turn thescrew 29 in such a manner as to force the block 28 toward the shoulder11, in this way the device is adapted for making wedges of a less degreeof taper than would be made with the block 26 in its position shown inFig. 3. In this connection it is to be understood that the deviceillustrated and described is equally well adapted for use in cuttingother material, such for instance as leather straps, on an incline forthe purpose of sewing two straps together.

In practical use, and assuming the device to be in the position shown inFig. 3, the operator laces the wood to be formed into a wedge, etweenthe side plates 12, with one end resting against the shoulder 11. Hethen grasps the handle 19, and forces the knife through the wood, untilthe knife reaches the end of its movement in the slots 13, and until thecutting edge of the blade stands adjacent to the shoulder 11, of thebase. During this stroke, the wood will be smoothly and accurately outalong the line in which the slotted guides direct the cutting blade. Theoperation of forming these wedges may be accomplished very rapidly,

as it is only necessary to place the wood in position, and then operatethe lever, and all of the wedges will be of uniform size, and smoothlyand accurately out. When the machine is not in use, the extension handle19 may be folded, as shown in Fig. 4, so that a minimum of space will beoccupied by it.

If it is desired to adjust the machine for cutting wedges 011 adifferent incline this may be readily and quickly done by themanipulation of the screw 29.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent of the United States, therefor, is

1. In a wedge making machine, the combination of a base, guidesermanently fixed to the base and extended above it, a knife slidinglymounted in said guides, a lever fulcrumed to the base, links connectingthe lever with the knife, a tapered block mounted upon the base, a wedgemounted on the base beneath the tapered block, and a screw extendedhorizontally through the base and projecting above one end of the base,said screw being connected to said wedge, whereby the'wedge may beadjustedgand the tapered block raised or lowered by manipulation of thescrew above the base.

2. In a wedge making machine, the combination of a base having ashoulder at its top near one end, two plates fixed to the sides of thebase and rojecting above it, and provided with inc ined parallel slots,terminating at a oint adjacent to said shoulder, a knife sli inglymounted in said slots, and having guide lugs in front of its cutting ede and extension ends, links attached to said extension ends, a forkedlever fulcruined to the base and having said links pivoted to the innersides of the forked members, an extension handle on said lever, capableof folding over the base, and means for locking the extension handle inline with the lever.

3. In a wedge making machine, the combination of a base, 'uide platesfixed to the base and formed with slots, a knife having a cutting bladeat its central portion. and. having guides projected in front of thecutting blade, said guides being arranged inside of the guide plates,extension ends on the knife projected out through the slots in the guideplate, links connected to the extension ends, and a lever connected tosaid links and fulerumed to the base.

Des Moines, Iowa, 3, 28, O7.

ERVIE PLINTEN ZAHNTER.

WVitnesses L. S. STEELE, E. M. BRICE.

